Y-Safety: 
A question and answer seminar for young people

The project aims to provide opportunities for community safety stakeholders in the Bunbury area to engage directly with young people; and thereby to enhance their understanding of young people’s perceptions of safety issues and community safety priorities. ICCWA will host a question and answer seminar between a panel of young people and an audience of government and non-government stakeholders who work in community safety related sectors.

On December 9th 2009, an information session hosted by South West VetLink was held at Lord Forrest Hotel in Bunbury and ICCWA staff presented an introduction to the project and recruited a working party of ten key stakeholders (including Nola Marino’s office, City of Bunbury, Capel Shire, Mission Australia , True Colours – Uniting Care West, SW VetLink and WA Police, DOH – WACHS SW – Mental Health, Alcohol Projects and Health Promotion.) Meetings are underway to attract additional funding, inform process, define recruitment and engage a facilitator.

With an independent facilitator and through scenarios, questions and discussions, this seminar will allow young people (from a range of backgrounds) to communicate their perspectives to community members and safety stakeholders and help the wider community to appreciate different concerns of young people.
Potential topics can be discussed across a range of safety concerns, by the diverse group of young people and should include, but not be limited to:
• Road Safety
• Alcohol and Drug awareness
• Crime and violence prevention
• Mental and Emotional Health and Wellbeing.

A facilitator will assist the young people to formulate question topics and scenarios to be explored during the event. Questions will be asked from the floor (stakeholders) and directed to panel members (young people). Following the event which is to occur in April or May this year, a report will be produced. Sustainability issues, consideration of continuity and ongoing applications for both the key stakeholder group and the youth panel are being considered in additional funding submissions. The event will also advance options for different community agencies and groups, including local government and political members, to further involve young people in developing policy and implementing initiatives and activities to create safe environments for all community members.

For more information email shelley.o’brien@health.wa.gov.au

‘Y Safety -Youth Forum’ is made possible by a grant from the WA Department for Communities Office for Youth.

Our Place, Safe Place

Our Place, Safe Place is a social research project that aims to engage young people to help raise awareness around the importance of safety in public spaces and perceived safety in public spaces in the community that are popular for young people.

Meetings have begun with various stakeholder agencies who work with young people and in youth arts.  Engagement of agencies working with marginalised youth in the community has also begin.

For more information email smckerracher@iccwa.org.au

Our Place, Safe Place is made possible by a grant from the WA Department for Communities.